The Lagos State Government yesterday gave start-up kits to over 300 residents displaced by the pipeline fire at Abule Egba on 19 January.
The packs, which included gas cookers, cooking utensils, tailoring, hair-dressing, beading, soap making, and fabric making equipment, were handed over to the beneficiaries after their graduation from various skills acquisition training programs organised by the state Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA).
Camping for Abule Egba fire victims was declared closed on 30 June, six months, and eight days since the government took charge of their shelter, feeding, healthcare, and education.
Handing over their certificate to the trainees, Director-General (DG) LASEMA Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu said they had earlier received cheques to assist them in their resettlement as promised by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Oke-Osanyintolu said 69 households and 25 individuals received N225,000 and N150,000 at the weekend.
The LASEMA boss said, “LASEMA is the only agency saddled with the responsibility of disaster prevention, management, response, and rehabilitation. Today is another phase of the Abule Egba incident. When about 320 victims were exposed to a life-threatening situation, the state government was able to cushion the effect. The government was able to improve the psychology, social and economic life of the people.”